The Craftworkers' Guild - Oliver Kendall House

The Kendall house was built in 1846 by Oliver L. Kendall, a local craftsman and entrepreneur, as a home for his family. The structure originall sat on the site that is now occupied by the Bedford Library on Meetinghouse Road, next to the "Little Green House" where Oliver and his brother Charles made shoes and operated a shop. In 1910, the building which had been purchased by Mrs, Frances Woodbury, was loaned to the town for use as a library. The town acquired the building in 1825, and with several additions and improvements, it served as the library until 1996 when it was replaced by the current library building. At that time, the Kendall house was recognized as a historic building worthy of preservation. It was restored to its original configuration, and re-sited in its present location. Since then, it has been the home of The Craftworkers' Guild, which shares responsibility with the town for the protection and maintenance of this special building.